Whether you need $(this) or not depends on the context you're working in.
Need it:
When handling jQuery Events
this is passed as the DOM element that triggered the event $(this) turns DOM element into a jQuery object
Anytime you get a DOM element
Other instances where you have a DOM element (or an object) and want to turn it into a jQuery object
Don't need it:
- Inside of a jQuery Plug-in
jQuery plug-in (jquery.fn) function this is a jQuery object already so no need to apply $(this) in here.
No harm done in $(this) even if this is a jQuery object because jQuery will just return the same object.
